Can group attaching plate



June 17, 1958 J. K. BRENNAN 2,838,818

CAN GROUP ATTACHING PLATE Filed Nov. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYSJune 17, 1958 Filed NOV. 10, 1954 J. K. BRENNAN 2,838,818

CAN GROUP ATTACHING PLATE 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH K.BRENNANATTORNEYS CAN GROUP ATTACHING PLATE Joseph K. Brennan, Milwaukee, Wis.,assignor to Packette Corp., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation Thisinvention appertains to a novel means for clamping and temporarilysecuring a group of cans together for dispensing and carrying purposes,the cans being of the type utilized for beer, soft drinks, foods, etc.-

' One of the primary objects of my invention is the provision of a platewhich can be readily connected to a group of cans by a stamping die forsecuring the cans together and which can be easily pried off of the cansby the use of a common kitchen tool or'can puncturing device.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a partiallypre-formed plate against which the cans are grouped, as the same leavethe filling and sealing machine, the plate being deformable by stampinginto gripping contact with the rims of the cans, whereby the cans willbe eflectively connected together without danger of the cans beingaccidentally separated during carrying, etc.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of astamping formed from relatively thin sheet material having on itsperimeter arcuate hook shaped flanges for receiving the outer faces ofthe rims of cans, the flanges having formed thereon normally outwardlyextending lips overlying the can terminals, which are adapted to be bentinto gripping contact with the inner faces of the can rims to preventaccidental displacement of the cans relative to one another.

Another further object of my invention is the provision of means on saidlips for receiving a tool to facilitate the desired dislodgement of acan from the plate.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a finger holeformed in the plate to facilitate the convenient carrying of a group ofcans.

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of apair of can clamping plates which can be simultaneously secured to thetops and bottoms of a group of cans for securely uniting the cansagainstmovement relative to one another.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will behereinafter more specifically described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of my plates in grippingcont-act with a group of cans for tem- United States Patent O Figure 5is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the plate bent intogripping contact with the cans;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the top and bottomplates bent into gripping contact with the cans, the view alsoillustrating the use of a can puncturing tool for dislodging the platefrom a can, and

Figure 8 is a top plan view showing a series of plates for securing morethan four cans together.

Referring tothe drawings in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout. the several views, the letterP generally indicates one of my novel partially pre-formed platesutilized for connecting a group of cans together. The plates P arepreferably utilized in pairs, one at the top of a group of cans and theother at the bottom of a group of cans, as will later appear and eachplate of the pair is of identical, like construction and hence only oneplate will be described in detail.

The plate P includes a central flat main body portion 10 and the plateis of a polygonal shape in plan and in the present instance has fourmain sides. Each side has formed thereon an arcuate hook shaped flange11 which is of such a shape and character as to engage the outer face ofa rim of a can and hook under or over such rim. Formed on the outer edgeof each flange 11 is an outwardly extending deformable lip 12. Each liphas formed therein a substantially centrally disposed elongated opening13, and the lip is struck outwardly beyond the opening 13 to provide aprying bridge 14. The axial center of the body portion 10 of the platehas formed therein an enlarged opening 15 constituting a finger hole andthe wall of this opening is preferably rolled over, as at 16, to avoidthe forming of rough, sharp edges.

This plate, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, is formed from thin sheetmaterial, and is in the nature of a stamping. Hence, the plate ispreferably formed from sheet metal. The plates are secured to a group ofcans by the further bending of the lips 12, as will later appear. WhileI have stated that the plates are preferably formed from sheet metal, itis to be understood that the plates can be molded from thermoplasticmaterial, and in which instance, the lips 12 are further bent intoengagement with the cans by pressure and heat.

In the drawings, the cans are indicated by the reference character C andthe cans themselves form no part of the porar'ily securing the grouptogether for dispensing and plate into gripping contact with the cans;

present invention, and are of a type commonly used for beer, softdrinks, foods and the like. Thus, each can includes a cylindrical sidewall 17 and like top and bottom walls 18 and 19. These top and bottomwalls are flanged over the side wall 17 and form rims 20.

'As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, a group of four cans are slid towardone another with the rims 20 riding into the hook shaped flanges 11 of apair of top and bottom companion plates P. The hook shaped flanges 11conform to the curvature of the cans andengage around the outer surfaceof the rims 20, with the cans grouped as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Thelips 12 are bent down by a stamping die into intimate engagement withthe inner surfaces of the can rims 20 and this bending forms an innerarcuate flange 21 which forces the hook shaped flanges 11 into forciblehooked relation with the rims and this brings about the secure unitingof the group of cans. This is best shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7. Duringthe stamping of the lips 12 not only are the flanges 21 formed, but aportion 22 of the lips is bent parallel to the can terimnals. Thebridges 14 extend slightly above the can terminals, as is best shown inFigure 7.

By this construction and arrangement, a group of four Patented June 17,1958 cans can easily be secured together as a unit for dispensing andcarrying purposes, and a finger can be inserted within the hole 15 tofacilitate the carrying of the group of cans.

When it is desired to dislodge a can from the plate, it is merelynecessary to utilize a tool, such as a can puncturing opener O of a typenow in common use, and as shown in Figure 7, the puncturing prong of theopener is inserted under a desired bridge 14, after which the handle ofthe opener is swung down and this will easily pry off a lip from a can.

Where it is desired to unite more than four cans together, say six, thentwo upper and lower plates P are utilized, as shown in Figure 8 of thedrawings.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention, but what I claim as new is:

In a device for holding a group of cans of the type having end capterminals and peripheral rims together for dispensing and carryingpurposes, a partially preformed plate formed from a single thin sheet ofmaterial, a series of arcuate hook shaped flanges on the perimeter ofthe plate into which a portion of the rims of a group of cans areplaced, outwardly extending lips on said flanges normally overlying thecans, said lips having inwardly directed arcuate flanges engaging aportion of the inner surfaces of the rims, whereby the rims are clampedbetween the last mentioned flanges and the hook shaped flanges, each ofthe last mentioned flanges having an extension provided with a centrallydisposed weakening opening, and an outstruck bridge beyond said openingfor receiving a prying tool between said bridge and adjacent canportion, to facilitate the prying thereof off of a rim of a can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS266,577 Babcock Oct. 24, 1882 603,455 Pinney May 3, 1898 1,516,232Kratzer Nov. 18, 1924 1,567,387 Rode Dec. 29, 1925 2,090,477 Graham Aug.17, 1937 2,212,476 Kielberg Aug. 20, 1940 2,285,801 Burnet June 9, 19422,384,112 Meyer Sept. 4, 1945 2,440,902 Lutey May 4, 1948 2,637,475Gialanella May 5, 1953 2,646,911 Holmbe'rg July 28, 1953 2,702,641Arthur Feb. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 182,378 Great Britain July 6, 1922

